Bench-vise.



Patented Aug. 28, |900. E. H. sHELDoN. Y

BENCH VISE.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1899.)

g mi@ M1 w/ w Unitarier) Strrns PATENT Ormea..

EDGAR II. SIIELDON, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

BENCH-wss.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 656,793, dated August 28, 1900.

Application filed January 9, 1899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR H. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States of America, and

Aa resident of Oak Park, Cook county, Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bench-Vises,of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a construction of vise especially adapted for attachment to a bench or table.

Prominent objects of my invention are to provide a simple',iinexpensive, and practical construction of bench-vise, to reduce to a minimum its number ofwparts, to simplify its operating mechanism and method of operation, to render its operation easy and natural, and to arrange for the application of the gripping force in the most advantageous manner. y

To the attainment of the foregoing and other desirableends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 are a longitudinal vertical section and a plan view, respectively, of a bench-vise embodyin g my invention. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection taken on line 3 3 in Fig. l; and Fig. 4L is a transverse vertical section taken on line 4 4 in Fig. l, on an enlarged scale.

In the vise illustrated the member A is the fixed or stationary member and is constructed with a xed or stationary jaw A. This xed member is to be secured to the bench or table and to such end can be conveniently provided with screw-holes 1 l, Fig. 2, through which screws can be passed. The movable member B, carrying the movable jaw B', is positioned below the lixed member A and made longitudinally movable relatively to the latter. Thisendwise movement is permitted by the inwardly extending longitudinal guides orV tracks 2 2, Figf, formed on the fixed member A and adapted to engage and support the edge portions 3 3 of the movable member B.

The movable member B is provided with a longitudinally-sliding rack-bar O, which is arranged to slide relatively to said member, and is to such end disposed within a suitable guide or slide way provided by a groove member B.

or channel formed in the upper surface of the sean No'. 701,634. (No maar.)

The rack-bar is arranged so that when moved forward `it will be elevated, a simple construction for this purpose being to provide the floor of the guideway for the rack with a series of incliues 4 4 and to provide the bottom of the rack with a corresponding series of cooperating inclines 5 5. The slideway-surfaces 6 `6 next forward of the inclined surfaces t 4 and the rack-surfaces 7 7 next in the rear of the inclines 5 5 are level or horizontal, so Vthat when the rack has been moved forward and elevated an additional or' supplemental forward movement of the rack relatively to the movable member B, or, what amounts to the same thing, an additional or supplemental movement of that member relatively to the rack, will not cause the latter to rise farther.y

The fixed member A is provided with a fixed rack-section D, which is arranged immediatelyfabove the rack-bar O and in such relatively to the movable member B. The

forward end of the sliding rack-bar O extends throughthe movable jaw B and is provided with a pivotally-attached and horizontallyswinging hand-lever E, having a cam F at its `inner or rear end. The cam F is constructed in the form of a curve with a continually-lessening degree of curvature, as best shown in Fig. 2, so that when the hand-lever E is swung toward the vise, as indicated by the arrow in said ligure, it will cause a correspondingly progressive relative movement between the rack-bar O and the movable member B. This movement will be either a forward movement of the rack-bar or a rearward movement of the movable member B, according to which one of the twois most effectively held against movement. By such arrangement and construction it willbe seen that when the lever E is in its normal position, preferably out straight-ez'. e., p in alinement with the sliding rack-bar O-the rackbar will be disengaged from the rack-section D and the movable member B can be freely slid in or out to any desired extent, so as to bring the movable jaw B into position against IOO the work to be gripped. eVhen the movable jaw B is so positioned, the hand-lever E is swung, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and so causes a relative movement between the sliding rack-bar C and the movable member B. As the work between the two jaws of the device offers a resistance to the rearward movement of the `movable member B, while the rack-bar C is perfectly free to move, the first portion of this swinging movement of the lever E causes practically no movement on the part of the movable member B; but it causes the rack-bar C to move forward and in so doing to rise and engage the rack-section D on the fixed member. By this engagement the rack-bar C is held so securely that it is locked against movement relatively to the iiXed member A. The continued swinging movement of the hand-lever E therefore causes the movable member B to move rearwardly and the jaw B to firmly and securely grip the work. When itis desired to release the work, the hand-lever E can be swung back, so as to move the rack-bar C rearwardly and disengage it from the rack-section D, whereupon the movable member B can be drawn out, so as to separate the jaw B from the fixed jaw A. It will be observed that in my device the rack-section D is rigid with the fixed member A and that the engagement of the rack-section D by the rack-baris caused by the lateral shifting movement which is imparted to the latter by its longitudinal movement in contradistinction to a device having the rack-section loose and subject to a spring tending to force it normally into engagement with a longitudinally-movable rackbar which reciprocates without an accompanying lateral shift and also having a pair of guide-bars arranged to move the movable rack-section ont of engagement with the movable rack-bar and to allow it to move into engagement with the same, as I am aware it has heretofore been proposed to construct.

It is obvious that my construction is much more simple and practical and much less eX- pensive and complicated than the one referred to, while it at the same time secures a positive and much more effective action.

rIhe hand-lever E and rack-bar C are conveniently held against separation from the movable member B by a track or guide l() on the upper face of the cam F and a lug l1, formed on the movable member B and adapted to engage the track or guide 10 on the cam F. The track or guide l() is downwardly inclined, as best shown in Figs. l and 4, so as to allow the rack-bar C to rise as it is drawn forward. This arrangement also serves to depress the forward end of the rack-bar C when the hand-lever E is swung back to its normal position.

As an arrangement for stopping the lever E when it has been swung back to its normal position,which is desirably in alinement with the rack-bar O, one end of the track or guide 10 is provided with a lug l2, which is adapted to engage the lug 11 on the movable member B when the handle E has reached that position. The rear end of the rack-bar C can be automatically depressed by a spring I-I, secured to the rear end of the movable member B.

It will be seen that my improved vise is simple, inexpensive, easy to operate, and very effective in operation.

It will be observed that in its broader features my invention contemplates a longitudinally-movable slide and a pair of coperating engaging devices, one on the slide and the other on the fixed member of the device,

for in reality the rack-bar C is a longitudinally-movable slide, and its teeth and those of the rack-section D are cooperating engaging devices. It will be furth'er observed that the hand-lever E, with its cam F, constitutes a swinging lever for causing a relative longitudinal shifting movement between the movable member and the slide and is pivotally connected to one of the same and arranged to act upon the other and also that the inclines 4 4 and 5 5 comprise one form of means for shifting the slide laterally when it is drawn in a forward direction. I have called attention to this broader view of thesep de vices in order to indicate the scope to which I consider the invention entitled.

1. In a vise, the combination with the fixed and movable members respectively providing the fixed and movable jaws, of a longitudinally-movable slide carried by and arranged for movement relatively to, the movable member; a pair of cooperating engaging devices, one rigid with the iixed member, and the other carried by the movable slide; a swinging lever for causing a relative reciprocation between the slide and said movable member, said lever being pivotally connected to one of the same, and arranged to act upon the other; and means for causing the movable slide to shift laterally and bodily in its forward movement to an extent to cause the engagement of the engaging devices on it and on the fixed member.

2. In a vise, the combination with the fixed and movable members respectively providing the iiXed and movable jaws, of a longitudinally-movable rack-bar carried by, and arranged for movement relatively to, the movable member,and extended forwardly through the movable jaw; inclines on the movable member and on the rack-bar for causing the bodily elevation of the latter when it is moved forwardly; a rack-section rigid with the Iixed member, and positioned to engage the rackbar when the latter is elevated; a hand-lever pivotally connected with the forward end of the rack-bar and constructed with a cam which is arranged to act against the front face of the movable jaw and is adapted to cause a relative longitudinal movement between the rack-bar and the movable member; and means for preventing the separation of Iso the rack-bar and attached hand-lever from themovable member.

3. A bench-vise comprising xed and movable members respectively providing fixed and movable jaws; a rack-bar arranged for longitudinal reciprocation Within a guide Way formed in the upper surface of the movable member; inclines on the licor of the guideway and on the bottom of the rack for causing the elevation of the latter When it is moved forwardly; a rack-section rigid with the fixed member, and positioned above the rack-bar so as to engage the same when it is elevated; a hand-4ever pivotally connected with the forward end of the rack-bar and constructed with a cam which is arranged to act against the front face of the movable jaw,

EDGAR H. SHELDON.

Witnesses:

A. MILLER BELFIELD, L. M. BULKLEY. 

